Specifications:Incorporating Canonís second generation Image Stabilization technology, this telephoto zoom responds in as little at 0.5 seconds, while providing up to three stops of correction for camera shake. Its AF system has been refined for better response time and tracking speed. And even the new 8-blade circular aperture offers a more pleasing out-of-focus image. Constructed to pro standards, this fast zoom is also highly resistant to dust and moisture, too.

Price, looks a bit ostentatious, gets you a lot of comments from the crowd

Amazing Lens. Very fast, very sharp, excellent color and contrast.

I spent a lot of time reading the posts in this forum to help me decide about this very expensive lens. The overwhelming majority of the posts were positive enough to help me with the decision. I also use the 24-70 f2.8 L series USM lens but this one is much better. Everyone comments on the weight but I knew in advance and did not have a problem with it even though I am really old. This is by far the most I have ever spent on a lens but I believe you get what you pay for.

If you can afford this lens, buy it.

Jan 13, 2006

Peter DhaezeOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Jan 10, 2006Location: NetherlandsPosts: 0

Review Date: Jan 10, 2006

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10

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Pros:

Sharp and fast.

Cons:

Non. Who cares about weight and size at this level of quality.

This is the best ever on my 20D.
AF is superfast. It is sharp from f/2.8 and from 70 to 200mm. This full-frame lens on my APS-C sensor gives the best of everything and its superb quality is only really reveiled when using RAW.

Jan 10, 2006

WThiryOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Jul 26, 2005Location: United StatesPosts: 652

Review Date: Jan 8, 2006

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,689.00
| Rating: 10

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Pros:

Build quality, weather seals, L Glass

Cons:

None, weight isn't an issue IMO, carry a 400 f/2.8, now that's a load

I usually don't post reviews, but I look at them alot to help point me in a direction, so I thought I would return the favor.
I bought this lens after it first came out, then sold it to finance purchase of a 200 f/1.8. Never should have sold it, OH sure, I love my 200 f/1.8 but could have found other way's to raise the money instead of selling the 70-200 IS. Anyway, after having owned the non IS version and now owning the IS version again, this lens is GREAT. Hand holding for indoor basketball, HS or College this lens rocks. The images are SUPER, try a normal HS Gym "sorry" lighting. Took it for a ride the other night, at ISO 1250 in AV mode, so I ended up with 1/160 or 1/200, yea I got some blur from motion of the players, but stationary shots or frozen jump shots at the peak of the jump were great. Next time I'm going to Manual mode. Like everybody says, if you can afford the extra $$$ for the IS, DO IT.

Jan 8, 2006

uz2workOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Mar 3, 2004Location: United StatesPosts: 11709

Review Date: Jan 5, 2006

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,600.00
| Rating: 10

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Pros:

outstanding image quality, 2.8 aperture, IS

Cons:

relatively large size and weight

The 70-200/2.8 is, to me, about as good as a zoom can get.
The image quality that I get from the lens is not that much different than what I get from my 200/2.8 prime. Having IS makes the lens, in many situations, more usable than the prime. The only drawback to the lens is that it is, for a lens of this length, large and heavy.

None that won't fall in the category of nit picking... Well, the hood is a bit obtrusive. With the hood you are SEEN, without the hood you are not that visible.

I have no problem walking around with this lens. Many have complained that it is a bit heavy, but really now... One of the main things I like is that I can shoot at speeds as slow as 1/50 @ full zoom and still get SHARP pictures, the IS is that amazing. This is the only lens I own that does not need tweaking beyond USM in PS. There is a slight learning curve but once you spend enough time to learn this lens you will not be disappointed. Paired with the 1.4x Extender decent range can be achieved. A sturdy tripod is necessary if you want to use one. I do wish Canon would have made a smaller lens hood. The thing is just TOO big.

Dec 27, 2005

stelinOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Dec 22, 2005Location: United KingdomPosts: 4

Review Date: Dec 22, 2005

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10

†

Pros:

Speed of lens, speed of focus, sharpness, IS

Cons:

Weight and price

One word -- Awesome.
Given the price in the UK I swallowed many times, walked round the block, gulped and then nervously handed over the plastic. I haven't regretted it for a second since.

Dec 22, 2005

VadimOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Dec 13, 2005Location: United StatesPosts: 2

Review Date: Dec 16, 2005

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10

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Pros:

Sharp lens, Beautiful color, Fast and very accurate AF, IS

Cons:

a bit heavy, white lens and a bit expensive (but worth it in my opinion)...

This was my second lens and bought it last year. It's an amazing lens and you will be very pleased with the shots you get with it. the F2.8 is really great to have and the bokeh is really nice.

You really need very little PS as the lens is really sharp !!!
Excellent lens to have

Dec 16, 2005

Michael-MOffline[ X ]

Registered: Apr 21, 2002Location: United StatesPosts: 2698

Review Date: Dec 15, 2005

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,850.00
| Rating: 10

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Pros:

SUPER Sharp!!! beautiful build and AF performance! IS works perfect.

Cons:

yes, i know want another 24-70f/2.8L

i'd gladly have paid more for this lens.
i've used my f/4 version for some time and as always, found it to be quite a challenge in low light levels.
after having such a poor time with my long gone 24-70, i believed that f/2.8 was just a useless aperture on these high end zooms........how wrong i am. i am so anal when it comes to buying my glass that i have to test at least 2 copies of a lens before i'll buy. i decided to try this lens and was expecting results at f/2.8 to be similar to the 24-70 i once had. let me tell you, when i got home and began viewing the images from the two copies i tried, i was blown away at what i saw at all zoom settings wide open from the one i selected. this is the sharpest lens i have used yet..........made me believe in the 24-70 again, and have since tested 3 copies of that lens as well...............so far, 1 is equal to my 70-200.

The optical performance of this lens is spectacular. Sharp, excellent contrast, rich true color. The IS works flawlessly. I'm not as steady as I may have been once, so I upgraded to this from the 70-200mm f4 and am glad I did. It's a very fast handling lens and works well w/ TC. Go ahead, you only live once.

Dec 10, 2005

chancellorOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Nov 29, 2005Location: United StatesPosts: 225

Review Date: Dec 3, 2005

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,600.00
| Rating: 10

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Pros:

Sharp, fast, built like a tank.

Cons:

None.

As I finally got myself into DSLR photography, I decided to purchase a decent glass. I contemplated for a while about purchasing 28-300L, 24-70L, 28-135 and this baby.

28-300 fell off my radar due to push-pull (some people love it on 100-400L, but it just didn't do it for me). Also lack of rebate on it perhaps added another 10% to the decision.

24-70L - excellent glass and I imagine that I'll get it at some point once I really feel that there is a gap using my 70-200L IS.

28-135 - wasn't "L" though for the price, reputation and all-around zoom makes it a very attactive walk-around lens.

After reading reviews and looking at all the options in B&H, I made a call to go with this glass and have on the body all the time for a while. Let me tell you, this lens worth every penny. I have taken pictures indoor and outdoor and all are extremely sharp. As a matter of a fact, friend of mine who has a lot of high-end Canon glass, decided to add this to his collection after taking a few shots with it.

The built is phenomenal. I enjoy taking it out of the bag ieven if I'm not shooting just to appreciate the art of it.

Hope you found this useful.

Dec 3, 2005

ShaitanOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Dec 2, 2005Location: JapanPosts: 5

Review Date: Dec 2, 2005

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10

†

Pros:

Very sharp pictures - Fast AF - Build quality is astonishing (looks like some kind of NASA stuff) - IS works pretty well - works well with the 1.4 extender

can get a little heavy after a whole while. IS is very nice, but in some situations too slow(!)

Bought this baby a few weeks ago and was very pleased right from the start. The colour (both lens&images =) ), the fast AF, the nice bokeh and the IS. Oh i'm so glad for this feature with my achy-shaky-hands

But there is one thing wrong with the IS: You have to wait half a second before you can release the shutter. If you dont wait (like i did a couple of times) and you have a slow shutterspeed of about 1/40th of a second the following might happen:

i aimed at the nose of my cat, half-pressed the button to focus and to activate the gyrosensores for shake-detecting. I then moved away from the face (to get it out of the center) ... pushed the button ... and got a blurry picture.

The reason for this is the IS Lens element that has to move along all the way you move when you chose another framing. If you are faster than the IS can "move along" with your movement, the IS-Element will still be in motion while the picture is being taken, thus causing "movement blur" (if i may call it that way )

So, i think that i have to relearn my techniques and do it like ... focus - move - wait - wait - shoot.

personally, i don't believe that there are no such problems with other Image Stabilizing procedures like the nikon VR or the sigma OS. No one speaks of it, of course, but i thought that it had to be mentioned (please dont kill me, my friends and my family, mighty canon - nikon and/or sigma corp. :D)